May 25 Movies to Inspire Your Next Trip

Abby and I are obsessed with movies. We literally try and see everything that comes out into theaters or online (except horror movies for me, hard pass). From old to new, blockbuster to indie, we certainly have a wide taste in movies and a variety that we call favorites. I think what we all love most is how movies take you somewhere, whether that be a new neighborhood, a foreign country, or some exotic landscape. They seem to transport you into shared experiences, even if it's just for 2 hours.

To Catch A Thief

One of Alfred Hitchcock's best! A classic 'cat burglar' movie that stars Cary Grant and Grace Kelly set along the French Riveria. Did he or didn't he steal the jewels? Better Watch.

James Bond Series

How does one choose just one James Bond film...impossible...right? I am a die hard fan of the series (minus the George Lazenby experiment). For me Sean Connery is 'Bond', although Daniel Craig and Roger Moore are good as well (2nd and 3rd in my book). No matter your thoughts, the fact remains that they shoot some pretty epic scenes all over the world and even one in space (Moonraker), ha. Dr No, the first film, is set in beautiful Jamaica. Add a bikini clad Ursula Andress and a villain with a radio beam and you have one of the best Bond films. [Other Bond Scenery: Spectre- Mexico City; Skyfall- Scotland; You Only Live Twice- Japan; Octopussy- India; The Spy Who Loved Me- Egypt; Goldeneye-Russia]

Midnight In Paris

Love him or hate him Woody Allen certainly has a style of his own, and for me, I love how the setting plays such a pivotal role in each film, almost like an additional actor setting the scene and influencing the dialogue and plot line throughout. Throw in the flashbacks to Paris in the 1920s and the depictions of Hemingway, Picasso, and Fitzgerald and you have an enchanting movie exploring the ideas of nostalgia and one writer's journey of self discovery. A MUST see!

Bottle Shock

An under the radar movie that's certainly worth a watch. It explores the 1976 "Judgement in Paris" wine tasting in which a winery from Napa Valley takes on the historic French Wineries in a blind taste test. The Northern California landscape is on full display.

Indiana Jones Series

Much like the James Bond movies, Indiana Jones plays a prominent role in my movie watching education and passion. The part time nerdy college professor and part time swashbuckling thrill seeking archeologist, Dr. Henry Indiana Jones Jr. is not only action packed but full of pit stops all over the world. From Turkey to Egypt to Austria to India and Germany, the movies never cease to amaze. With his fedora and bull whip in tow, you're in for a ride! [Watch Raiders of the Lost Arc first]

Ocean's 12

Another series of movies, I think it's a guy thing, sorry. Hey at least there's no comic book adaptations. If the acting power in these movies can't get you to watch then the action and intrigue certainly should. Of the three movies, Ocean's 12 (the 2nd one) is my favorite. Mostly because it takes place in Amsterdam, Lake Como, and Rome. What else do you need, right?! A modern take on the heist genre with clever exchanges of dialogue and plenty of surprises (Julia Roberts role, trust me). I highly reccomend them all, a good balance for him and her.

Amelie

Amelie is very eccentric and probably not everyone's cup of tea. But this film, and Paris, hold a special place in our dating history. After our semester abroad, we dated long distance finishing up college with me in Kentucky and Austin in Wisconsin. Over Valentine's Day we couldn't celebrate together so we had a "long distance date". We both went and got Chipotle and watched Amelie at the same time while skyping. It's humorous now to us, but it is a nice memory during those days when we were apart.

Roman Holiday

Roman Holiday was Audrey Hepburn's first real movie that she starred in and she ended up winning an Academy Award for it! The world fell in love with her and so did I. I received a box set of all of her films for Christmas one year from my parents and Roman Holiday (along with Breakfast at Tiffany's, of course) stood out to me for the scenery around Rome. Even in black and white, Rome is visually captivating and the perfect place to runaway and fall in love with a stranger.

Notting Hill

Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant exchange one of the most famous lines in the history of film. "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her." Soul-crushingly brilliant! It's always a pleasure when I catch it on TV and it brings back fond memories of living in London and an AirBnB apartment that Austin and I rented in Notting Hill.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, and Dev Patel? Instant classic. Austin and I are old souls so we instantly loved this film (and it's sequel!) about British retirees creating a new life in India.

A Good Year

Austin and I rented this film on Netflix and booked our trip to Provence literally a week later. The reality in this film is basically the dream: a rich uncle leaves you a palatial estate in Provence and you give up everything to move there and fall in love with Marion Cotillard.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Another Woody Allen film, but set in a sultry summer in Spain! While I've never been to Spain, it looks pretty magical in this film, even amongst the tumultuous relationships. Sightseeing, eating, drinking with a Spanish fling makes an entertaining movie.